KSPA Embilipitiya Paper Mill resumes operations after 10 years

The KSPA Embilipitiya Paper Mill, which was recently restored, has commenced operations after a period of 10 years.

According to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), the paper mill was inaugurated by the Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province, Navin Dissanayake on Thursday (Apr 18). 

“The transformation into manufacturing industrial-grade paper marks a turning point in Sri Lanka’s rich history making Sri Lanka self-sufficient in Industrial paper manufacturing and conserving much-needed forex for the country,” the BOI added in a statement on ‘X’. 

Embilipitiya Paper Mills, belonging to the National Paper Company Limited, is the second oldest paper mill in the country set up in 1978. However, the operations came to a standstill in 2003 and though it resumed operations in 2011, it became a very short stint as the paper mill was closed again in 2012.

In 2022, Korean SPA Packaging (Pvt.) Ltd. (KSPA) signed an agreement with the BOI with respect to the resumption of the operation of the defunct Embilipitiya Paper Mill. 

KSPA decided to resurrect this giant corporation through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) after it was put up for sale by the government. 

The project, with an initial investment of USD 16 Million, aims to manufacture industrial-grade papers for the direct and indirect export market by upgrading machinery and infrastructure. (Newswire)